An honest comparison
Ted vs. Outschool
Outschool is a marketplace with thousands of teachers. History Moments with Ted is one teacher, chosen deliberately. Here’s an honest look at what each model means for your student.
Credit where due
What Outschool does well
Outschool is a genuinely useful platform. It offers live online classes and 1:1 tutoring across a huge range of subjects for ages 3–18, its educators are vetted, and scheduling is flexible. For sampling many topics cheaply, or finding a class on a niche interest, it’s hard to beat. Many families use it happily, and many of our families found us after trying it.
Side by side
At a glance
| History Moments with Ted | Outschool | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Live, teacher-led class sessions on a set schedule | Online marketplace of live group classes, 1:1 tutoring listings, and self-paced courses |
| Class size | Kept small by design, so every student is known and heard | Varies by listing, from group classes to 1:1 sessions |
| Who teaches | Ted Lamb, a dedicated historian-educator, for the entire course | Thousands of independent educators; you choose, and quality varies by listing |
| Materials | Primary and secondary sources: the original documents, read firsthand | Varies entirely by teacher |
| Grade fit | Grades 5–12, with content and pace built around your individual student | Ages 3–18 across the platform; fit depends on the listing you pick |
| Interaction | Every session is a live conversation: discussion, debate, questions both ways | Live in most classes; depth depends on format and group size |
| Feedback | Assignments reviewed personally; feedback tailored to your student’s thinking | Varies by teacher and class type |
| Cost model | Premium live instruction; inquire for current rates | Pay per class or per session; prices vary widely by listing |
Details about Outschool are drawn from publicly available information as of August 2026 and may change; please verify current offerings and pricing with the provider. All third-party names are trademarks of their respective owners. History Moments with Ted, LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by Outschool.
The difference
A marketplace gives you options. A teacher gives you a relationship.
You choose from thousands vs. you get the one
On a marketplace, quality depends on which listing you happen to pick, and teachers come and go. With Ted, there’s no roulette: one experienced historian-educator teaches every session of every course, and families know exactly who their student is learning from.
Sessions vs. a coherent course
Marketplace classes are often short-run or one-off, taught from whatever materials each teacher prefers. Ted’s courses are full arcs: a year of American or world history built entirely from primary and secondary sources, with each week building on the last.
A crowd vs. a seat at the table
In a big marketplace class, a quiet student can hide in the back. Ted keeps classes small and discussion-driven by design, so every student is called into the conversation, and it goes exactly as deep as they can take it.
“I can only credit this to his understanding of students as individuals, as well as the subjectivity of the process of learning.”Delphinia G., student
The honest verdict
Which is right for your student?
Choose Outschool if…
- You want to sample lots of subjects and formats inexpensively
- Your student thrives in group settings with peers
- You’re looking for short-run or one-off enrichment classes
Choose History Moments with Ted if…
- You want a real teacher, not a platform: one historian-educator who knows your student by name
- Your student learns best through conversation, questions, and debate
- You believe history should be read from the sources, not summarized
- You want a course that adapts to your student’s grade, interests, and pace, every single week
See the difference for yourself.
Tell us your student’s grade level and interests, and Ted will reach out personally. No commitment, just a conversation.
Enroll Your Student